Road-leveling machine.



N. S. MONROE.

ROAD LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLEo FEB.6.1913.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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N. S. MONROE.

XROAD 4LEVELING MACHINE. APPLICATxoN FILED FEB. e, 1913.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2l .N. S. MONROE.

ROAD LEVELING MACHINE.'

APPLICATION FILED rss. s, 1913.

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ROAD LEVELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 1913.'

Patented. Feb. 6,1917.

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N. S. MONROE.

ROAD LEVELIN'G MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. e. |913.

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NATHANIEL S. MONROE, OF ARTHUR, ILLINOIS.

ROAD-LEVELING MACHINE.

Application filed February 6, 1913.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL S. MON- Ron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arthur, in the county of Douglas and ccitate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Leveling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This iuventionrelates to road scraping and leveling machines, and it has particular reference to that type of road leveling machine which is shown, described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,015,820, issued to me on January 30, 1912.

rfhe invention patented to me as aforesaid comprises a wheeled body, angularly disposed forwardly diverged scraper bars arranged at opposite sides of said body, and means whereby said scraper bars may be adjusted to change the angle therebetween and to independently raise and lower the front and rear ends of said scraper bars. One object of the present invention is to make the scraper bars flexible, each bar being composed of a front and a rear section which are flexiblyl connected together .in such a manner as to be capable of independent adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction whereby vthe angle between the front scraper bars and that between the rear scraper bars may be independently varied.

A further object of the invention is to improve the tackle whereby the scraper bars are moved forwardly to increase the divergence betr-Joon the front ends, said tackle being so arranged aste increase the power and to facilitate the operation.

A1 further object of the invention is to produce a simple, improved and eflicient drag which may be conveniently used in connection with lthe leveling machine for which it is particularly adapted.

lVith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying` drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,

Specication of Letters Patent.

ratentea ree. e, ieri.

Serial No. 746,490.

'resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the preferred form of the invention. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, showing the scraper bars in position for operation.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating various adjustments of the scraper bars.

Fig. i is a side elevation showing the scraper bars raised for transportation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of a portion of one of the scraper bars.

Fig. 7 is a. sectional detail view taken on the line 7`7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view illustrating a modiiied arrangement of the scraper bars.

Fig. 10 is a detail view in elevation of the cross bar whereby the front scraper bars as seen in Fig. 9 are connected.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view showing a portion of the extreme rear end of the machine and the drag used in connection therewith.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 12-12 in Fig. 11.

Corresponding parts in the several iigures are ldenoted by like characters of reference.

The frame of the improved machine includes side members 15 that converge forwardly and are supported at or near the rear ends on the hind axle 16 vhaving ground wheels 17. The forward ends of the side members 15 are connected together by means including plates 18 and 19, the latter, which is the bottom plate, being extended forwardly to form a lug or bracket 2O resting on the tongue 21 which in turn is supported on the arched axle 22 which, together with its supporting wheels 23 and the tongue, constitutes the front truck. The tongue supports a bracket 245 that extends rearwardly above the lug 20, and the parts are assembled by means of a king bolt 25 passing successively through the bracket 2st, the lug 20, the tongue 2l and the crown of the arched axle 22. The lug 2O is provided for the passage of the king bolt with a slot or aperture 26 which is sufiiciently large toY give the king bolt the requisite freedom of vtongue with the axle, but these braces, it

will be readily seen, will not interfere withn a short turn being made by the front truck in guiding the machine.

It will also be seen that the construction of the front truck as herein described furnishes a very simple and eiiicient hitch,

whereby the improved leveling machine may be connected with a tractor whereby it is to be operated. Y

The frame supports a platform 28 which may be of any desired dimensions but which has been shown only large enough to furnish a stand for the operator who manipulates the various parts of the machine when the latter is in operation. Adjacent tothe front end of the platform is a cross bar 29 supported on brackets 30 that rise from the side members. Another cross bar 3l is supported directly on the side members 15 below the cross bar 29. The cross bars 29 and 31 extend beyond `the side members of the frame. Pivotally supported on the extended ends of the cross bar 3l are cranes 32, the free ends of which are connected with the extended ends of the cross bar 29 by means of guy rods or braces 33. These cranes are for the purpose of eecting adjustment of the front ends of the Scrapers, as will be presently more fully described.

Two Scrapers are used, such scrapers being disposed longitudinally below the frame of the machine and arrangedand supported in such fashion that various adjustments may be made. In the patent previously issued to me each of the Scrapers is composed of a single bar, and said scrapers are arranged outside of the hind wheels of the machine. Under the present invention each scraper is composed of two separate bars which will hereinafter be referred to as the front and rear scraper bars, the front bars 34 being approximately twice the length of the rear bars 35, although the proportionate length may be varied considerably without affecting the utility of the device. It will also be seen that said scraper bars which in my previous patent are arranged outside the hind wheels are in the present instance arranged between the hind wheels of the machine, an arrangement which, while not necessary,is preferable because it affords better facilities for adjustment and also because the hind wheels. being placed a greater distance apart, will afford greater stability to the machine. The individual scraper bars are shown as being composed of I-beams, each being reinforced by an L-bar 36 which is riveted or otherwise secured on top thereof with its upstanding flange adjacent to the inner face of the scraper bar which is V,bolt 39 is mounted for rotation.

equipped with a scraper blade 37 which is .Y

Vdirt which is moved by the scraper blade from tumbling over the scraper bar. The rear ends of the front scraper bars 34 are overlapped by the front ends of the rear scraper bars 35, as will be very clearly seen'inllig. l of the drawings. Each of the rear scraper bars is providednearits front end with a bearing sleeve 38 extending transversely across the same and wherein an eye- Eachof the front scraper bars is'provided at its rear end with a laterally or outwardly extending lug at() which is connected with the eyebolt 39 by a pivot member, such as a bolt el, thereby establishing what amounts to a universal joint connection between the front and the rear scraper bars, each being capable of movement in an approximately horizon- Y gage the scraper bars and extend vthrough Y perforationsdd, a plurality of-which is provided in order that the scraper bars may be variously spaced at their front ends. In Fig; 9 where the cross bar is indicated at ll, said cross bar is connected with Afront scraper bars 34e near the rear ends thereof, the cross bar .being provided with a plurality of apertures V44 for the passage of the connecting member 43. the rear scraper bars 35 are pivotally connected with and spaced apart'by a cross bar 45, a suiiicient distance being left between the rear ends ofsaid scraper bars for the passage of clods of dirt and the like, and it will, furthermore, be seen that the rear end of one scraperbar 35 extends rearwardly of the other rear scraper Vbar for the purpose of smoothingoff the crown of the road that is' being leveled by the machine.

The connecting bar 4t2, as shown in Fig.

.10, may be arched for Vthe purpose of per` The rear ends ofV Y 1,015,820. This, however, will only be needed when means are used for tilting the scraper bars angularly with respect to the ground, as shown in the said patent. Inasmuch, however, as said tilting arrangement and the means for effecting the same is shown and claimed in said patent, it is not deemed necessary to particularly illustrate or to further describe the same in connection with my present invention, although in the construction of the present machine these devices may be utilized, if desired.

For the purpose of supporting the scraper bars and of effecting proper adjustment of the same, means are provided including link bars 46, the forward ends of which are flexibly connected with the side bars 15 of the frame near the front end of the latter, and the rear ends of which are pivotally connected at 47 with the front scraper bars near the front ends of the latter. at 47 may be effected by means of an eye bolt to which a sheave 48 is attached. Each of the cranes 82 includes two substantially parallel side members 49 between which at the outer ends thereof a pulley 50` is supported for rotation. The extended ends of the cross bars 29 and 81 afford bearings for drum shafts 51, each having a hand wheel 52, and with each drum shaft is connected one end of a hoisting element, such as a cable 58, which is guided successively over the pulley 50 and the sheave 48, the other end of said hoisting element being attached to the frame at 54. It will be readily seen that by rotating the drum shafts 51, the forward ends of the front scraper members may be raised or lowered,.and it will also be understood that by means of said drum shafts proper adjustment may be effected to permit the spreading apart of the scrapers in manner hereinafter described.

The side members 15 of the frame are connected together and spaced apart at their rear ends by a cross bar 55. Projecting rearwardly from the rear end of the frame is an upwardly inclined V-shaped frame extension 56 which affords a bearing for the rear end of a longitudinal drum shaft 57, said drum shaft being' additionally supported intermediate its ends and adjacent to it-s front end by bearing brackets 58 and 59 rising, respectively, from the rear cross bar 55 and from the rear end of the platform 28. The frame extension 56, as well as the bearing brackets 58 and 59, may be reinforced by suitably arranged braces 60, and it is obvious that similar reinforcing braces may be used wherever it is considered necessary to strengthen the construction. The drum shaft 57 has at its front end a hand wheel 61 whereby it may be rotated. The rear scraper bars 35 are connected together adjacent to their rear ends by a flexible element, such as a chain 62, in the bight of The connection SHI;

which is supported a block or sheave 63. A flexible hoisting element, such as a chain or cable 64, is connected at one end with the rearward frame extension 56, from which it passes through the. sheave 63, its other end being connected with the drum shaft 57 on which it may be wound.

The Scrapers are connected together intermediate their front and rear ends by a flexible element, such as a chain 70, said flexible element being positioned in close proximity to the joints connecting the front and the rear scraper bars, with the understanding that it may be connected either' with the front scraper bars, as seen in F ig. 1, or with the rear scraper bars, when preferred. The iexible element supports in the bight thereof a sheave or pulley block 71 for thepassage of the fiexible hoisting inember, such as a chain or cable 72, one end of which is connected with a hook 7 3 supported on the frame and the other end of which is connected with and wound on the drum shaft 57. By using a chain as a hoisting element and a hook 73 for the purpose of connecting' the same with the frame, adjustment of said hoisting element may be easily and quickly effected, and the same may be slackened, if desired, as seen in Fig. 2. It will be seen that by rotating the drum shaft 57 the hoisting elements G4 and 72 may be wound or unwound, thereby raising or lowering the rear ends of the rear scraper bars and the intermediate connected port-ions of the front and the rear scraper bars. lt will also be seen that by slackening the chain 72 by changing its point of connection with the hook 73, the rear ends ofthe rear scraper' bars may be adjusted without affecting the position of the joints of the front and rear scraper bars. Thus, it will be seen that the flexible or jointed scraper bars are capable of a great variety of adjustments and that the machine will thereby be rendered capable of performing its allotted work with an attention to detail which is impossible when rigid scraper bars are employed or when less eflicient means for the adjustment of such scraper bars are provided.

The means for effecting spreading movement of the scraper bars is substantially like that shown in my previous patent, except that by the use of an improved tackle, the power is multiplied, thereby greatly facili tating the adjustment. The rear scraper bars are connected together near their rear ends by a flexible element, such as a chain 74, supporting in the bight thereof a sheave or block 75 through which passes a flexible element, such as a chain or cable 76, one end of which is bifurcated, the terminals 77 being connected at 78 with the side members 15 of the frame. The other end of the fiexible element 76 is guided over a pulley 79 to a drum shaft 80 with which it is connected,

seen that by said drum shaft being supported in anupright position for rotation by the cross bars 29 and 31, and said drum shaft being provided with a hand wheel 81 whereby it may rbe rotated. It will be seen that when the flexible element 76 is unwound or slackened the scrapers may move rearwardly beneath the frame to a position in which the supporting and connecting'cables leading fromV The inclusion of the block or'sheave 7 5 in the adjusting tackle greatly facilitates its operation.

Y It is intended in connection with the improved machine to use a drag, the detailed construction of which will be best understood by reference to Figs. 11 and 12. Said drag is composed of bars such as channel bars 85, any desired number of which may be used, but of which two are preferably employed, this number being sufficient to produce the desired results. These channel bars are provided at their front edges with angle lugs 86 bolted on their upstanding flanges, and at their' rear edges with angle lugs 87 of a length exceeding that of the lugs 86 and similarly bolted, riveted or otherwise secured on the rear upstanding flanges of the channel bars. When other than channel bars are used, it is obvious that the angle lugs may be bolted or otherwise secured on the front and rear edge faces of such bars. The angle each channel bar are bolted or otherwise secured on the undersides of draft bars 88 which are arranged in parallel relation to oneranother, and it is desired to be understood that the draft bars 88 may be positioned obliquely with respect to the channel bars or at right angles to the latter, if preferred. rIhe draft bars are extended forwardly of the channel bars and are connected by means of chains 89 with the rear axle of the machine. By adjusting the relative length of the chains 89, it will be seen that the angle of the drag with respect to the machine may be varied. It will also be the manner of connecting the channel bars 88, the forward edges of said channel bars will be tilted upwardly so as to ride over obstructions, such as clods and the like, which will be crushed, and the surface leveled and left in a smooth condition.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, it will be seen that I have produced a very simple and efficient leveling machine which is capable of being manufactured at a lugs 86 and 87 ofv moderate expense and which has proven by actual experience ments that are not possible with other Inachines of the same character with which I am familiar and which render the machine thoroughly efcient for the purposeof leveling and'crowning roads which, after being subjected to the action of the machine, are in perfect condition Yfor travel. Y

Having thus described Vthe invention, what is claimed as new,is:--"

l. In a road working machine, forwardly divergent and rearwardly convergent scrapers each comprising front and rear members flexibly jointed together by a universal joint, and a link connecting the rear members together.

2. In a roadworking machine, a pair of forwardly divergent and rearwardly convergent scrapers each comprising a. front member, a rear memberand a joint, the latterincluding pivot members at substantially right angles to one another, a link bar whereby said rear members are connected together with freedom for pivotal movement withV respect to said link bar, and a cross bar with which said rear members are adjustabl'vy connected near their forward' ends.

3. In a road working machine, a carrying frame, a pair of forwardly divergent and rearwardly convergent scrapers, one at each side of the machine, each scraper to be capable of adjust- Y a pair of soV wheeled comprising a front member, a rear member :D u Y u i one at each side of the machine, each scraper i comprising a front-member, aV rear member and a universal jointpermitting independent movement of the front and rear members of the scrapers in various planes, means whereby the angles between the front members and the rear members of the scrapers may be independently varied, and said front and rear members retained at various adjustments, and hoisting means whereby vertical adjustment vof the front vends of the front members, the rear ends of Vthe rear members and the intermediate jointed portions of the front and rear members of the scrapers may be independently effected.V f

5. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled frame, scrapers each composed of front and rear bars iiexibly connected together, means for supporting and vertically adjusting the front ends of the front scraper bars, means for supporting and vertically adjusting the rear ends of the rea-r scraper bars, and means for supporting and vertically adjusting the scrapers adjacent to the joints connecting the front scraper bars and the rear scraper bars including a flexible element connecting the scrapers adjacent to the joints, a sheave supported in the bight of said flexible element, a flexible hoisting element and a drum shaft with which said flexible hoisting element is connected, said hoisting element passing through the sheave, and a supporting member on the frame with which the other end of the hoisting element is adjustably connected.

6. In a machine of the class described, a wheeledl supporting frame, scrapers each consisting of fiexibly connected front and rear bars, means whereby said Scrapers are supported for vertical adjustment adjacent to their front and rear ends and also adjacent to the joints connecting the front and rear scraper bars, a flexible element connecting the scraper bars near their rea-r ends, a sheave supported in the bight of said flexible element, a vertically disposed drum shaft near the front end of the frame, and a suitably guided flexible element bifurcated at one end and attached to the side members of the frame, said flexible element passing through the aforesaid sheave to the vertical drum shaft with which its other end is connected.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wheeled frame and supporting and adjusting means, of Scrapers each composed of front and rear bars and means whereby said front and rear bars are flexibly connected, said means including an eye-bolt journaled in a horizontal sleeve on the rear scraper bar, a lug extendinglaterally from the front scraper bar, and an approximately vertical pivotal member connecting said lug with the eye-bolt.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

n combination with a wheeled frame and sup- Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the porting and adjusting means, of Scrapers each comprising front and rear bars and means whereby said front and rear bars are flexibly connected together; a cross bar with which the rear scraper bars are pivotally connected near their rear ends; and a cross bar whereby the scrapers are adjnstably connected together adjacent to the joints between the front and the rear bars.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a. wheeledframe and supporting and adjusting means, of Scrapers each comprising front and rear bars, and means whereby said front and rear bars are flexibly connected together; a cross bar with which the rear scraper bars are pivotally connected near their rear ends; and means whereby the Scrapers at the two sides of the machine are connected together adjacent to the joints whereby the front and the rear members thereof are flexibly connected with each other; said joints including pivot melnbers on which the front scraper bars may swing in an approximately horizontal plane.

l0. In a machine of the class described,-the combination with a wheeled frame and supporting and adjusting means, of Scrapers each comprising flexibly connected front and rear bars, each capable of movement in an approximately horizontal and an approximately vertical plane irrespective of the other, and the supporting and adjusting means including means whereby the Scrapers are supported for independent vertical adjustment at their front and rear ends and at their intermediate jointed portions; a cross bar with which the rear scraper bars are pivotally connected near their rear ends, and means whereby the Scrapers are rigidly connected together adjacent to the jointed portions thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NATHNIEL S. MONROE.

Witnesses:

IVM. BAGGER, BENNETT S. JONES.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

